[Bernadette_Abraham]

Hi @Annie – I personally like the liquid vitamin D from Seeking Health, Thorne and Biotics Research. I also really like cod liver oil for children as a source of not only vitamin D but also vitamin A and omega-3 fats.

However, I always try to avoid supplements with children unless I know there’s a deficiency or specific circumstance that needs to be corrected. I’ve been looking into vitamin D lamps recently for this purpose.

Just need to see if there’s one with low EMFs, and I’ll be sharing more info about it. The idea is to use a lamp to replace the sun so that we synthesize it on our own during the winter months instead of relying on supplements. I’ll be sure to let you know what I find.

[Bernadette_Abraham]

Hi @Annie – unfortunately, there’s no robust evidence directly linking the consumption of raw eggs to the development of neurological or schizophrenia-like disorders.

Regarding the shaking when he was poisoned from raw egg consumption, severe cases can sometimes cause systemic infections that can affect the nervous system, which can potentially lead to symptoms such as shaking or muscle spasms, especially if there’s dehydration or electrolyte imbalances caused by vomiting and diarrhea as a result of the food poisoning.

So it’s not a straightforward yes or no I’m afraid.

[Bernadette_Abraham]

Hi @naslam1603 – a ferritin level of 555 is actually quite high and would make sense after an IV iron infusion. In men, a ferritin above 100 could also be due to an infectious dynamic (because the body sequesters iron to stop feeding infections) or due to a genetic condition called hemochromatosis which leads to iron overload. So while it may seem like a dramatic drop, 68ug/L is more likely your normal baseline level which is slightly suboptimal.

B12 does not directly cause low ferritin, but there may be a indirect connection. With B12 injections, you can rapidly correct a deficiency, enabling the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. This process requires iron, which may lead to a temporary depletion of ferritin (the storage form of iron), particularly if iron stores were already borderline.

I know you’ve been doing a lot of gut healing work. Do you feel your digestion has improved and would tolerate more meat in your diet? Have you been able to slowly wean off of your PPI while increasing stomach acid support?

[Bernadette_Abraham]

Hi @Bahareh – your assessment seems to be on the right track, however I’d like to make a few comments to challenge your thinking (in italic):

• Chronic Inflammation (Insulin resistant, Hypothyroid, her conditions: Adenomyosis and Uterine Fibroid) what markers made you assume she’s insulin resistant? And yes, she is presenting with sub-clinical hypothyroid function.
• Possible reactivation of viral infection? (WBC markers) the skewing of her neutrophils and lymphocytes point to a possible low-grade simmering infection/dysbiosis.
• Nutrient deficiencies (due to BC as well as thyroid conversion issues): need for B6/B12, Zinc, Copper, Vit A, Selenium, Iron, Magnesium, since no autoimmune can increase Vitamin D as well) / iodine? should be tested. There’s a definite need for more zinc. Have you considered why that might be the case? I agree there’s a strong need for all B vitamins, especially B6 and B12. What made you assume she needs copper? I agree she could use some nutrient support to help with the conversion of T4 to free T3. Her anti-TG was right on the cusp of autoimmunity, so I would be cautious with iodine, and would encourage gluten elimination for a short time period while working on supporting the integrity of her gut lining, then re-test.

• Anemia (low iron stores) since also low in HCI, iron absorption issues Assuming she’s low in HCL from hypothyroid function, why else would her iron be low and what can she do to address that?
• Adrenal fatigue and chronic stress Can you clarify how you came to this assumption?
• Needs liver/gallbladder support, low bile (Lipid profile and Liver profile) Keep in mind that low B6 can mask what’s truly going with a liver panel. Her direct bilirubin is slightly sub-optimal, so supporting the biliary tract is probably a good idea
• Gut dysbiosis (renal markers) Can you please explain how you made this assumption.
• Further possible root causes: Heavy Metals what makes you suspect heavy metals are at play?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

[Bernadette_Abraham]

@Kkol have I already directed you to the Interpreting Basic Blood Chemistry course before? I feel as though I have…

In any case, I’d encourage you to watch the entre section on Lipids in that course starting with THIS video.

I always suggest a more advanced lipid panel which I also discuss in these videos to assess cardiovascular risk. Homocysteine, fibrinogen and hsCRP should also be part of the picture, but also other markers such as fasting insulin, HbA1c, full thyroid and liver panels.

I also encourage you to listen to Dr. Ralph Esposito’s session “Demystifying the Lipid Panel“.

Finally, next week I’ll be interviewing Dr. Stephen Hussey, author of Understanding the Heart, for a fascinating discussion on what really causes heart attacks. He summarizes it into these 3 things:

1 – Poor metabolic health / insulin resistance

2 – Inflammation & oxidative stress

3 – An imbalance in the autonomic nervous system

I highly recommend joining this session live too if you can! Here’s the link: https://bbettermembership.com/event/beyond-cholesterol-what-really-causes-heart-attacks-with-dr-stephen-hussey/

Regarding your question about genetic cholesterol, when you watch all the resources I’ve shared, you’ll realize that higher cholesterol may not actually be a problem. In fact, as we age, higher cholesterol actually becomes protective.

Happy learning!

[Bernadette_Abraham]

@Alyssa besides prescribing antibiotics, did your doctor try to figure out what caused the methane-dominant SIBO?

I’m asking because I’ve seen many cases where patients are put on antibiotics or even natural antimicrobials WITHOUT addressing the cause, and it becomes this never ending revolving door of “killing” and then it returning, leading to a lot of frustration and a decimated gut/immunity from all the antibiotics.

Antibiotics or natural antimicrobials may be totally appropriate in your case, however I just want to prevent this from happening to you too. It’s very important that your doctor is also addressing the cause(s) so that the environment changes and it does not return after removing the overgrowth.

And I’m so glad to hear that you’re free of H Pylori! Glad it worked for you. Supporting stomach acid production is one of the main digestive players that when dysfunctional, can set a person up for SIBO.

I would strongly suggest you go through our SIBO/IBS Program located in Succeed>Programs. Not only does it cover the common root cause factors, but it also shares solutions for permanent resolution including more natural options.

[Bernadette_Abraham]

Hi @sheetalramchandani1 – thank you for sharing this case. This is one of those examples where medication may be contributing to the problem over time. Since the largest majority of our immunity resides in our gut (about 70-80%), frequent rounds of antibiotics is going to further suppress his immune system by decimating his microbiome which modulates the immune system, leading to more frequent illnesses over time. And not to mention the susceptibility to yeast overgrowth and other opportunistic infections.

From the symptoms you described, my initial thought was that this could be caused a parasitic infection. When I checked the CBC result that you shared, his eosinophils are in fact suboptimally high (should be <3%) and his hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV and MCH are all clinically low, which points to some form of anemia. Parasites LOVE iron so my suspicion is that this child may need a parasite cleanse. You can learn more about interpreting white blood cell differentials HERE.

They could try to test for parasites at the doctor’s office with a stool test, but it’s not very reliable. Parasites are masters at hiding – they shed their DNA very quickly once they’re out of their host. They could get a GI Map or GI Effects stool test, but again, they aren’t very reliable for parasite detection specifically.

If this was my son, I would put him on a parasite cleanse preventatively because he’s showing symptoms. If they need help with that, please encourage them to join B Better and follow the Parasite Cleanse program if they need more guidance.

What I would want to test however are his immune nutrients vitamin D, vitamin A and RBC zinc, and optimize these if they are low. I would also pursue an iron panel.

Encourage his parents to feed him probiotic-rich foods daily for several months to help repopulate his gut microbiome.

Hope this helps provide some direction and next steps to consider.

[Bernadette_Abraham]

Hi @Annie – was your husband able to provide a diagnosis of what it is? Providing us with as much info as possible about your daughter’s health status, and this specific case would help us guide you better.

Thanks

[Bernadette_Abraham]

Hi @iryna_klevetenko – sorry to hear that. Was the tick sent in for testing? Is she working with a Lyme literate doctor? Does she live in a Lyme endemic area?

In Succeed>Protocols, you can find a lot more information and guidance in our “Tick Bite: What to Do” protocol including symptoms, where to send in tick for testing and how to find a Lyme literate doctor. Please read through it and let us know if you have any other questions.

[Bernadette_Abraham]

Well done @Bahareh – she’s lucky to be working with you!

Be cautious with the term “adrenal fatigue.” While it’s commonly used, it refers to a severe condition where the adrenal glands fail completely. In her case, the adrenals are functioning properly. What’s happening is HPA Axis dysfunction—her brain is intentionally adjusting cortisol production as a protective mechanism, meaning her system is still working as it should.

Regarding heavy metals, do you know if she’s had any known exposures to make you suspect that?

[Bernadette_Abraham]

Hi @LAK – with hypothyroid function, everything in the body slows down – including digestion and its digestive juices. So yes, it’s very possible to have suboptimal stomach acid as a result of subclinical low thyroid function. That’s why it’s important to address stress and thyroid nutrient deficiencies to help “fire up” metabolism again, as well as removing gluten while doing gut healing to calm the immune system. If H Pylori is confirmed negative, then supplementing with digestive enzymes or Betaine HCL is a great way to support overall digestion and help with nutrient absorption as a temporary crutch.

You can find stomach acid support options in THIS VIDEO from the Gut Health Masterclass.

Regarding liver/gallbladder support. There are many non-supplement options, but just know they won’t be as potent as supplements so they will take longer to show effect.

• We have a list of liver/gallbladder supportive foods in this handout. I often recommend dandelion root tea to my clients. Digestive bitters can also help stimulate bile secretion and overall digestion. You can find bitter foods and supplement options HERE.
• Castor oil packs can be effective as well. Here’s more info and the how-to instructions.

However, one of my favorite ways to break up biliary tract congestion is with D-limonene. It’s a supplement made from citrus extract that acts like a detergent that breaks up grease. I often recommend 30-60 days (or more as needed) to clients who need help with better bile flow due to some biliary tract congestion. If someone has “clogged pipes”, it’s important to unclog them first before promoting and pushing bile flow. Hope that makes sense.

You can find more info about d-limonene and its use in the Liver/Gallbladder Support video from the Gut Health Masterclass course.

And well done for making the time to go through all of these materials. They will certainly help you make sense of it all! Let me know if you need more help!

[Bernadette_Abraham]

@LAK thanks for sharing. I’m glad you did, because as suspected thyroid function (even though you’re on Thyroxine) is still suboptimal. Ideally, I like to see Free T3 in the upper half of the clinical reference range. So based on these results, I’d like to see it above 3.2.

This means you’re having trouble converting T4 to free T3 the active hormone that has effect everywhere in the body, including digestion, liver function, immunity, metabolism, etc. This could be nutrient related or it could also be stress related. Unfortunately we do not have Reverse T3 to see what’s happening there. Please watch this video from the Thyroid Balance course to make sure you’re providing your body with the key nutrients needed for thyroid conversion. You did not measure vitamin A and selenium, which are also key nutrients so focusing on foods that provide these is a safe bet. What is the reference range for Zinc? Please also include those as they change from lab to lab.

Also, please watch this video to understand how cortisol impacts thyroid function.

And with regards to your liver panel, I’m also seeing sluggishness as indicated by clinically low Total Protein and Globulin. Please watch THIS video from the Interpreting Basic Blood Chemistry course to understand why.

Your fasting glucose is also considered suboptimal, however given the high morning cortisol response in your previous test, this could be due to an early morning stress response. But to rule out blood sugar dysregulation, you could also ask for a blood sugar panel that includes fasting insulin, fasting glucose and HbA1c.

Regarding your question about reintroducing gluten, you don’t want to reintroduce it slowly. Instead, you really want to trigger the immune system to see if it will respond to gluten. You can read more about reintroductions in this handout.

[Bernadette_Abraham]

Hi @LAK – I would strongly recommend that you consider removing gluten 100% for at least 6 months. To the immune system, gluten resembles thyroid tissue (called molecular mimicry) so with each exposure (even if it’s just a small bite), your immune system attacks the thyroid thinking it’s a foreign entity. This is a non-negotiable if you want to address autoimmunity. Gluten also increases the permeability of the tight junctions in the intestines – in plain English, gluten makes the gut more “leaky”, which can set a person up for food sensitivities by allowing normal, everyday foods to enter the bloodstream. This can also trigger an immune response and more inflammation.

The easiest way to think about removing gluten is to eliminate anything made from flour! So no bread, pasta, flour-based desserts, etc. These are all “simple carbs” which should be low in our diets anyways. Instead, replace these simple carbs with naturally starchy foods like potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets, squash, zucchini, and perhaps some grains like rice, quinoa, millet, buckwheat (although grains for many people with autoimmunity can be a triggering food group so an elimination trial is suggested). These are all naturally gluten-free starches to replace flour-based products which naturally removes gluten. Check this handout as well for more “sneaky” sources of gluten.

In addition to gluten removal, work on gut healing during that time period as well. You can find solutions for that in THIS VIDEO form the Gut Health Masterclass course.

Now regarding the high levels of bacteroides and the antibiotic/antiparasitic metronidazole, this is actually an endemic bacteria so while antibiotic treatment is certainly an option, there are other ways to rebalance the microbiome without using such a strong medication – especially if you didn’t do well with it. The recommendation to address overgrowths is to bring better balance to the microbiome by focusing on the 5R protocol. Also remove dietary sugar and refined carbs to avoid feeding the overgrowth. And if it’s really an entrenched case, natural antimicrobial herbs can also be very effective with much less side effects. You can see those options HERE.

[Bernadette_Abraham]

@LAK are your thyroid and liver results being interpreted from a conventional or functional lens? As you may or may not already know, clinical reference ranges are very wide and represent 95% of the population whom do not have a formal disease diagnosis. There can be a lot of symptomatic people within that “normal” range.

If you have your results, please feel free to share them here if you’d like me to take a look.

Thyroxine provides the body with T4 thyroid hormone, however if someone does not convert that into sufficient free T3 hormone, they will still present with hypothyroid symptoms despite “normal” T4 levels.

And since you have a formal autoimmune diagnosis, the primary issue is immune dysregulation so that’s where your focus should be in terms of root causes. The thyroid may or may not be affected as a result.

Aside from your thyroid medication, are you doing anything to address thyroid autoimmunity? What is your current diet like? Have you checked your vitamin D, zinc and vitamin A levels?

I encourage you to watch the section on Thyroid Autoimmunity in the Thyroid Balance Course starting HERE. There are 4 videos.

[Bernadette_Abraham]

@iryna_klevetenko did you get a chance to read through the protocol I shared? She can still work with a Lyme literate doctor – many work virtually. And if the tick was saved, she can still send it in for testing. In the protocol, it also mentions that if someone lives in a Lyme endemic area, it’s probably a good idea to be on antibiotics for longer than just a short course, especially if symptomatic.

With regards to supplements post-antibiotics, we have another protocol called “Antibiotic Support (Before, During, and After)” that might help.